Description

Interior Abingdon MG car factory, draughtsmen working on their drawing boards designing the "fastest 1.5 Lt car in the world". 2D Model of Stirling Moss placed on the car design as the draughtsmen work. Int. Workshop as various parts of the proto type are added to the chassie, the petrol tank, wheels, and with a man sitting in the drivers seat a steering wheel. The pedals are adjusted and the steering wheel tested. Workmen place the airofoil dynamic "skin" over the chassie.
Stirling Moss and two designers walk up to the finished car, and Moss climbs in and tests the seating and steering wheel which folds out of the way when getting in and out of the car. The steering gear is of the rack-and-pinion type with the steering wheel attached direct to the steering pinion shaft With the engine at the back the foot controls are less than 2 inches from the front. CU as Moss tests the pedals. Moss and the designers discuss the car, they then put on the bonnet which covers the driver. The engine is a 4 cylinder Overhead Valve type with twin camshaft, fitted with twin S.U. carburettors and a Shorrock eccentric vane supercharger. The brake H.P. is 280 at an engine speed of about 7000 r.p.m.
Moss checks his headroom, which is OK, nods to the designer, and they pull back the bonnet and Moss climbs out. The completed car is carefully put into a container and the address in Utah is stencilled onto the side. The container is driven from the factory. through the town, and arrives at the docks in front of the Queen Mary passenger ship. The car is hoisted up the side of the ship and into the hold. WS ship still in port.

WS Sunrise over Salt Lake City. "Welcome to Utah" sign, the racing car is on a low loader as it is driven to the track past a big sign "Bonneville Salt Flats". Trucks pull metal bars across the salt flats to improve the surface. Captain George Eyston (who captured M.G.s first world record 27 years ago) looks on as the car is unloaded.
An American driver gets in to test the car. CU M.G. and American flag sign. At the timing stand the electronic timing equipment is installed. After a push start the MG drives away across the flats. Intr. timing stand with officials. The MG returns and mechanics clean and test the car. As Moss puts on his helmet the engineers reassemble the MG for the record attempt. He climbs in and the bonnet and cockpit are lowered over him. CA to officials in the timing booth.
Seven men push start the car. Front and side shots as the MG rushes over the salt flats. Interior timing booth. WS as the MG approaches and passes camera. Intercut between the timing officials and the MG as the return run is completed. It achieved 235.69 m.p.h. over five miles, and broke five world records, and five American records.
As the car comes to a stop, Eyston and others gather round to congratulate the smiling Moss on his achievement
End caption reads; "MG Proudly Maintains the Breed".

10 telling images selected from British Pathé's extensive WWI footage. 'The war to end all wars' was a war without parallel: over 70 million military personnel were involved and over 17 million people died.